Between Nigerians and Nigeriens - How many are we really?

Posted by Wilfred on November 06, 2009 at 09:14:53:

Nigerians and Nigeriens are not exactly the same kind of people but they both share a common border with each other in West Africa.

Nigeria's population is put at a staggering 150million plus and still counting. Although they are still disagreements and suspicions as to actual numbers, tribes, issue of religion and so on but the truth is that no one knows for sure how many people they are in Nigeria.
Nigeria also shares a border with Niger at the north and the border there is said to be too porous such that there is almost free movement of persons in and out of the country without any proper records. Niger is a country that is mostly Muslim and French speaking while Nigeria is a secular country although mixed in religion and has English as her official language. There is also a bond between Nigerians and Nigerians from northern Nigeria such as they share a strong bond that makes it hard at times to differentiate who is one from the other. There are also many Nigeriens in Nigeria who have migrated into the country as a result of increasing poverty in Niger which has an undemocratic govt unlike Nigeria. In terms of politics and economy, Nigeria and Niger differ greatly in the sense that Nigeria has been a oil producing country that has a rich govt. Nigeria also has a rich vegetative land and was mostly an agricultural economy before the discovery of oil at Oloibiri.

Is Nigeria's population a problem for the country. Does it hep to have to many people when oil wealth has not been able to rid the country of poverty. More than 90% of Nigerians are living below the poverty level and yet Nigeria seems to be doing nothing about controlling the population which is increasing due to unrestricted immigration and birth rates. Would it be safe to continue living in a country where the poor are increasing daily despite the fact that Nigeria as a country is financially rich to the benefit of only a few?

When we say that Nigeria's population is more than 150 million, what is the criteria? Does it include illegal immigrants like people from Niger and others from neighboring West African countries?

I'm not sure the Federal govt has been able to distinguish between Nigerians and Nigerians.

Re: Between Nigerians and Nigeriens - How many are we really?

Posted by Fred on November 23, 2009 at 02:53:18:
In Reply to: Between Nigerians and Nigeriens - How many are we really? posted by Wilfred on November 06, 2009 at 09:14:53:

Well it is important for us to have a genuine government that is de-tribalized and willing to know the actual number of people living in Nigeria



---

Re: Between Nigerians and Nigeriens - How many are we really?

Posted by Sophy on April 25, 2010 at 08:03:46:
In Reply to: Between Nigerians and Nigeriens - How many are we really? posted by Wilfred on November 06, 2009 at 09:14:53:

How can we know d exact number of people in Nigeria when census is not done properly in most parts of Nigeria because of personal interests and greed.
And come to think of it, is it possible to check d population rate of a country where there is no proper record of birth and mortality rates because there is no provision for that in many parts of d country.



---